Online Casino Guide for Beginners

Types of Online Casinos

There are a variety of online casinos in the US that you’ll want to try. Regulated online casinos are popular, but they don’t always offer the games or bonuses you’d like.

Players interested in learning new games or playing for free will want to focus on sweepstakes casinos. If your state doesn’t offer regulated gambling or you covet more games or enhanced bonuses, offshore casinos may appeal to you.

Here’s a rundown of the main types available:

Offshore Casinos

Offshore gambling sites operate under licenses from international jurisdictions like Curacao, Panama, Costa Rica, Comoros, and Malta, which means they don’t answer to U.S. laws. Still, they accept players from all over the country and, with the right research, can be just as safe as any locally regulated platform.

The best online casinos based offshore support both cryptocurrencies and fiat methods. Right now, DuckyLuck sits at the top of our rankings. You can get up to six times your first deposit through the welcome bonus, plus access to hundreds of games from some of the best software providers.

Regulated Online Casinos

Regulated online casinos hold a valid operating license from a recognized gambling regulation. These licenses guarantee the casino operates under strict guidelines, such as using fair gaming algorithms and safely handling user data. They also have an obligation to address and resolve any disputes quickly.

You can verify if a site is regulated by inspecting its footer for a license number or reviewing its terms and conditions. You can also confirm its authenticity on the official regulator’s portal.

Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos are a distinctive form of online gambling legally operating across most of the U.S. 

Rather than depositing real money, you receive “Gold Coins” as a virtual currency to enjoy slots, table games, and more at no cost. Gold Coins replenish periodically, but you can purchase more if desired. 

Doing so—and achieving gaming milestones—unlocks promotional offers and daily bonuses called “Sweeps Coins.” When used in games, you can redeem these winnings for tangible rewards, including cash.

Popular Online Casino Games

There is no shortage of online casino games to play. Gambling sites have hundreds, if not thousands of titles in various categories.

Slots are some of the most popular, with plenty of themes, storylines, paylines, graphics, and styles to choose from. Their only drawback is they’re entirely luck-based. More strategic table games include blackjack and poker.

There are also live casino options that feature real-life dealers from land-based studios.

Online Casino Bonuses

Most online casinos offer a welcome bonus to new players. They frequently offer matchups (ex. 100% up to $1,000) spread across multiple deposits paired with free spins.

Platforms like Wild Casino keep the entertainment rolling with daily and weekly promotions. For instance, Tuesdays come with a $50 reload bonus, while Fridays provide up to $250 in rebates based on losses from Monday through Thursday.

Here are seven things to watch for when exploring casino bonuses:

• Percentage Match: Commonly found in welcome offers and reload bonuses, percentage matches refer to the proportion of your deposit the casino will match. They can range from as low as 25% to over 300%. To maximize your bankroll with minimal investment, look for a higher percentage match rather than a larger maximum limit.

• Eligible Payment Methods: Many players try to claim a bonus using an incompatible payment method, especially with eWallets like Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal. Avoid this by verifying the acceptable methods listed in either the specific promotion or the casino’s general terms.

• Rollover Requirements: Rollover requirements refer to how often you need to wager a bonus to change it into withdrawable cash. 40x is standard, though you can accept higher terms if the percentage match is high. However, for the best chances of cashing out, look for bonuses with lower numbers or that don’t include your deposit as part of the requirement.

• Bonus Expiration Dates: Online casinos give you a certain amount of time to fulfill wagering requirements or use free spins. Extended deadlines give you time to familiarize yourself with the platform and make smarter decisions with game selection or strategy.

• Eligible Games: Online casinos often tailor bonuses for specific game genres or outline restrictions for titles that don’t count toward wagering requirements. We found that progressive jackpot slots are frequently excluded, while table games contribute about 20% on average.

• Maximum Bet Limits: This parameter caps how many bets you can place while working towards the wagering requirement. The higher the limit, the more room you have to maneuver. Awareness of this limit is crucial, as exceeding it can result in the forfeiture of all accumulated progress.

• Withdrawal Restrictions: No matter how attractive a promotion appears, there’s always a limit to how much you can withdraw after fulfilling the wagering requirements. For instance, if the limit at $1,000, any winnings exceeding this amount will not contribute to your cash-out balance. Trust Dice sets the bar at ten times the bonus, while other crypto gambling sites like Cafe Casino state no maximum limits in their terms. 

Popular Online Casino Banking Options

Banking options are another important aspect when picking the right online casino. Look for payment methods that are cost-effective, secure, and easily accessible. Bonus points go to low transaction costs, fast processing, reduced need to enter sensitive details, and widespread acceptance among online gambling sites.

Our guides below cover a range of payment methods, from traditional debit cards and bank transfers to modern options like eWallets and cryptocurrencies.

Debit Cards Litecoin Ethereum Bitcoin Skrill Neteller American Express Mastercard

Casino Tips for Beginners

If you’re new to gambling, it can help to have a few practical tips for finding, choosing, and winning at online casinos. Here, we’ve put together four simple strategies from our personal play to help you start on the right foot:

Look Beyond the Welcome Offer

Most online casinos in the U.S. have welcome offers available, so it pays to see what perks await beyond the sign-up stage. Look for gambling sites with regular weekly promotions, such as reload offers, rebates, free spins, free-to-play tournaments, and more.

It’s also wise to evaluate the available loyalty programs. Commit to a platform with regular rewards for a continuously rewarding journey at no extra cost.

Consider the Software Providers

Look for online casinos collaborating with renowned software providers known for their expertise and innovation in your favorite gaming genres. For example, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, and Spinomenal excel in slots, while Evolution Gaming and Ezugi are leaders in live dealer offerings. 

On the other hand, if you prefer sampling various products, look for platforms such as Slotsandcasino and Slots.lv that collaborate with many providers.

Play Games in Demo Mode

There’s no substitute for experience. Dive into games and learn the ropes firsthand using free play mode. Platforms like Las Atlantis and BetUS let you test every RNG title without spending a buck. Demo mode mirrors real play from start to finish, except when it’s time to cash out.

If you’re interested in a casino without demo modes, visit the software provider’s website directly. Leading brands like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Big Time Gaming often allow you to test their products for free without needing to create an account.

RTPs vs Volatility

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the average amount of money that online casinos pay back over time. If you’re a more conservative player and you want a better chance at sustainable gains, high RTP casino games should be a priority.

Games with higher volatility will pay out less (or infrequently) over time, but they also can sway in an extreme manner. You can never guarantee an outcome with casino games, but increased volatility can offer a chance at a big jackpot win.

Which option you prefer boils down to how you play and your objectives. Generally speaking, you should always lean towards games with a higher RTP, as volatile games are simply more difficult to predict.

Yet, the assortment of bonus features—encompassing massive multipliers, free spins, and distinctive gameplay mechanics—and progressive jackpots can make lower RTPs worthwhile.

For times when the bankroll is bigger and you’re prepared to risk more for larger jackpots, medium and high-volatility games are your best bet.

New Read Online Casino Reviews

The best way to get a feel for a casino before even trying it is to see what others have to say. Social media and forums help, but our online casino reviews take it a step further because they include firsthand research from our team of experts.

To back that up, we use our proprietary AI tool, the Jackpot Meter, to pull data from thousands of external analysts and real player feedback. It then rates each gambling site based on the balance of positive to negative reviews. Those that make the cut earn the Jackpot Certified badge, while sites with more complaints than praise get marked as a Bust.

More Online Casino Guides 

Blackjack Strategy

Understanding blackjack strategy is extremely important for your win rate and without it it’s very difficult to be profitable. Discover expert tips and learn more about the best blackjack strategies to help your game here.

Check out more on blackjack strategies

Gambling Systems & Strategies

Just like with blackjack, understanding any casino game’s strategies will give you the best chance of winning money. Here you can find information on all the best systems and strategies for online casino games.

 

Check out more on system and strategies

Software Providers

Software providers can easily make or break your experience at an online casino. The bad ones provide games that are dull and do not give good odds to the players. The good ones provide fun and exciting games that have fair odds. To make sure you are playing at an online casino with the best possible games, take a look at our guide on software providers below.

Check out more on software providers

House Edge

The house edge is how online casinos ensure they make a profit over time. Certain games are much better than others for this. Games like roulette and blackjack have a good house edge, while slots, keno and specialty games often have a worse house edge. The guide below can help you understand what games give you the best possible house edge.a

Check out more on house edge

Gamble Responsibly

A word of advice: approach gambling as entertainment, nothing more, like paying for a baseball game. If you happen to come out ahead, that’s even better! However, avoid chasing your losses if things don’t pan out.

The best way to keep gambling fun and safe is to set a strict budget that doesn’t impact your financial situation if you lose it. If you find yourself straying, use tools like short-term account closures or self-exclusion.

Visit our responsible gambling page to learn more. Additionally, support groups like GambleAware are available 24/7 to help if you or someone you know needs it.

Guide to Playing at Online Casinos

Online casinos come with a huge range of games, bonuses, and ways to play, but getting a feel for everything before jumping in makes all the difference. The key is locking in the basics—understanding how slots, table games, and live dealers work, knowing what separates different bonuses, and making sure that you can manage deposits and withdrawals safely.

The best casino tip for beginners is to start off in demo mode. It gives the exact same authentic experience without putting anything on the line. That way, you can figure out what suits you and set a budget that fits your bankroll while still giving yourself a real shot at winning money.

Charlon

Muscat

Content Specialist

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All the way from the renowned iGaming hub of Malta, Charlon has been contributing to the gambling industry since 2019. He began his career at Paddy Power™, but the onset of the pandemic led him to swap his nine-to-five for a life of full-time travel. Throughout his journey, Charlon developed a successful freelance career, leveraging his prior industry knowledge and focusing on analyzing online casinos, sportsbooks, slots, payment methods, and current trends and strategies through the lens of an actual player.

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